The Latin word also is the source of Old Irish plag (genitive plaige) "plague, pestilence," German Plage, Dutch plaage. Meaning "epidemic that causes many deaths" is from 1540s; specifically in reference to bubonic plague from c.1600. Modern spelling follows French, which had plague from 15c. Weakened sense of "anything annoying" is from c.1600.

Example Sentences for plague

They were sick-and so were the purest of their brethren—with the plague of sin.

All their calamities, except the plague, were the foreseen results of their own decision.

The chief of a nation that prefers the pestilence of despotism to the plague of anarchy.

But as we come from the East, and as the East is the country of the plague—'

I have had the plague continually, ever since I have been here.

I came here as well as ever I was in my life; but to suspect me of the plague is to give me the plague.

Ecod, you used to have life enough, when you could plague me with it.

No tenant could be found for the place, which was avoided as if the plague still clung to it.

All the politicians are a nuisance, a curse, a plague worse than was any in Egypt.